Spirituality

7 verses from the Book of Job to meditate on

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Righteous Job the Long-Suffering on Wednesday, May 6. In the context of this day, we have selected a few verses from the Old Testament book that we must meditate on at any time in our lives. Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave,…

May 6, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

Stavropoleos Monastery launches virtual tour

Stavropoleos Monastery located in Bucharest’s old city centre has partnered with Scanbox Integrated visual solutions to build a complete virtual tour of the Monastery, giving unprecedented access to monastery church, courtyard and facilities. Now available on the Stavropoleos Monastery’s website, the Virtual Tour takes users on a digital tour of the church, library, refectory and…

May 1, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

J.C. Larchet: The value of the Holy Communion does not depend on how it is offered to the faithful

In a recent interview, French theologian Jean-Claude Larchet, well-known to Romanians through his numerous books on illness and suffering, places the Covid-19 pandemic in historical context and discusses the challenges to religious practice which stemmed from it and spurred controversy among the Orthodox faithful. The extensive interview approaches hotly debated topics such as the issue…

Apr 21, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Retired Bishop Daniil gives sermon to the very revered walls: Forgive us, who were and still are only “whitewashed walls”

Retired Bishop Daniil of Dacia Felix gave a notable sermon on Sunday addressing ‘the Very Reverend Walls, the Reverend Chant Stands and Chairs in our Orthodox churches.’ Speaking to the church objects and walls, the retired bishop Daniil Stoenescu said that illness and the inability to cross the threshold of churches these days are a…

Apr 2, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Putna Monastery pins hopes on patron saints to rid Romania of coronavirus

The monks of Putna Monastery pray for a miracle from the monastery’s patron saints to rescue Romania from the coronavirus outbreak. Carrying relics and icons, the monks walked around the outside of the monastery’s main church on Sunday, praying the coronavirus away. The procession was organized as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the…

Mar 31, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archim. Zacharias Zacharou: Pandemic as going out in the Desert. Christ is with us there by calling upon His Name

Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou from “St John the Baptist” Monastery in Essex, Great Britain, has sent spiritual advice to the faithful who are panicked by the current coronavirus epidemic. He gives the answer to the question how to face a possible interruption of the celebration of the Divine Liturgy? We should use this time for spiritual…

Mar 20, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

St Eanswythe: Relics of Anglo-Saxon saint found in church wall

Relics discovered more than a century ago in a Kent church are almost certainly the remains of an early English saint who was the granddaughter of Ethelbert, the first English king to convert to Christianity, experts have concluded. Saint Eanswythe, the patron saint of the coastal town of Folkestone, is thought to have founded one…

Mar 7, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Greek Metropolitan of Mesogaia to speak about ‘passing through the wilderness of Great Lent’ in Bucharest

The Lenten lectures organized by the Romanian Orthodox Christian Students Association (ASCOR) in Bucharest will kick off this year with a special guest from Greece. His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki will speak at the Aula Magna of the Law School of Bucharest about the passing through the wilderness of Great Lent and…

Feb 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Nativity Fast Begins: Let us receive Christ in the cave of our souls

The Nativity Fast is one of four main fast periods throughout the ecclesiastical year. Beginning on November 15 and concluding on December 24, the Nativity Fast gives individuals the opportunity to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour in the Flesh on December 25. By abstaining from certain food and…

Nov 15, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Simona Halep exclusive interview: ‘The Mother of God is always on my mind’

After receiving the highest distinction of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Wimbledon 2019 Champion Simona Halep spoke about her devotion to the Mother of God in an exclusive interview with Basilica.ro. The tennis player confessed that her love for God and the Theotokos was inspired by her family. ‘I have never refrained from professing my faith…

Jul 20, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Pope Francis: The ‘Our Father’ is a prayer that leaves us troubled and crying out in protest against the famine of love in our time

On the first day of his 3-day visit to Romania, Pope Francis prayed the ‘Our Father’ in Bucharest’s Orthodox People’s Salvation Cathedral and addressed the congregation. Here is the full text of his address: Your Beatitude, Dear Brother, Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am grateful and moved to be in this holy temple that brings…

May 31, 2019Sorin Ioniţe